Move Over Pakistani Chaiwala, This Indian Chaiwalli Is Making The Country Proud

Celebri-tea!

(Photo: Instagram/ chai_walli)

While millions of girls were crushing over a Pakistani chaiwala Arshad Khan, an Indian chaiwalli based out of Australia, Uppma Virdi, meanwhile was making the country proud with her tea brewing skills.

The 26-year-old is a lawyer in the day and a tea seller otherwise.

Virdi, who started her tea venture two years ago, bagged Australia's Businesswoman of The Year at the 2016 Indian Australian Business and Community Awards (IABCA) in Sydney last week. And no she didn't receive the award for being a successful lawyer but instead for being an outstanding entrepreneur (read chaiwalli).

"It's been an amazing journey to use both my Indian and Australian cultures and to connect them both. I am an Indian-Australian and I have the amazing opportunity to share the Indian culture in Australia through Chai Walli. I am so humbled by IABCA that they have recognised my hard work of being a professional commercial lawyer and also a Chai Walli who is passionate about the Indian-Australian relationship," Virdi told News18.

Virdi, who was born in Chandigarh and moved to Australia when she was 1-year-old, was disappointed when she grew up to find out that the land she was residing in did not have good Indian tea to satisfy her taste buds.

So, she made a decision to make tea not only for herself but for others too.

And it was her passion for tea that made her start a 'chai' business and turn herself into a 'chaiwalli' two years ago.

"I started Chai Walli to share my grandfather’s ancient Ayurvedic knowledge of spices and herbs in Australia. Through my chai blends, I educate Australian consumers on traditional Indian chai and the known remedial benefits in Ayurvedic chai," Virdi told News18.